Packaging of bottles, jars and other articles

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for packing bottles or the like in cartons. It provides a speedy and economical manner of packing and results in such saving of material compared to the hitherto used methods. Bottles or the like are arranged in columns and rows in open containers and partition strips are inserted therebetween. The strips are discharged from a magazine and are gathered by a finger which transfers the strip to a position horizontally above the container and disposed vertically above the space between adjacent rows of bottles. A plunger drops and collects the strip from the finger and presses it into the said space between adjacent rows of bottles. The container is then moved to a subsequent station for similar operation but wherein the partition strip is inserted at right angles to said firstmentioned strip. The action of inserting the secondmentioned strip forces said firstmentioned strip downwardly between the bottles.

United States Patent Corderoy [4 1 Mar. 28, 197 2 154 PACKAGING 0FBOTTLES, JARS AND 678,647 7/1901 061m ..217/22 OTHER ARTICLES 3,350,83611/1967 Dillon et a1. ..53/ 128 X [72] Inventor: Henry Morgan Corderoy,Gladesville, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS New Auwala 1,439,253 4/1966France .53/157 [73] Assignee: A.C.l. Operations Pty. Limited, Melbou neVictoria Australia Primary Examiner-Robert An0rney-Ryder, McAuiay &Hefter [22] Filed: Oct. 30, 1969 211 App]. No.: 872,531 [571 ABSTRACTThe present invention relates to an improved method and ap- [30] ForeignApplication Priority Dam paratus'for packing bottles or the like incartons. it provides a speedy and economical manner of packing andresults in such Oct. 31, 1968 Australia ..45656/68 saving of materialcompared to the hitherto used methods. Jan. 13, 1969 Australia..48994/69 Bottles or the like are arranged in columns and rows in opencontainers and partition strips are inserted therebetween. The [52] U.S.Cl ..53/26, 53/35, 53/157, Strips are discharged fr m a g n n are g r by21 217/22, 217/30 finger which transfers the strip to a positionhorizontally above 511 1m. 01. ..B65b 35/00, B651: 61/00 the containerand disposed vertically above the space between 53] w f Search 3 3 14, 35 1 57 adjacent rows of bottles. A plunger drops and collects the strip93/37 R, 38; 206/65 R, 65 C, 65 C; 217/22, 30 from the finger andpresses it into the said space between adjacent rows of bottles. Thecontainer is then moved to a sub- 56] References Cited sequent stationfor similar operation but wherein the partition strip is inserted atright angles to said firstmentioned strip. The UNITED STATES PATENTSaction of inserting the secondmentioned strip forces said firstmentionedstrip downwardly between the bottles. 192,956 7/1877 Vorster ..217/22498,567 5/1893 Parrish et a1 ..217 22/ 16 Claims, 4 Drawing FiguresPatented March 28, 1972 3,651,614

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented March 28, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PACKAGING OFBOTTLES, JARS AND OTHER ARTICLES This invention relates to the packagingin cartons, boxes or other containers of bottles, jars and otherarticles which in order to reduce the risk of breakage or other damage,require to be packed relatively tightly and separated by partitions orother suitable cushioning means.

For this purpose, it is usual to provide the carton, box or the likewith a cellular insert comprising partition or wall members arranged atright angles to form individual compartments for the articles. Suchcellular inserts generally comprise strips of paperboard or the like,formed at the requisite spacings with slots which extend one half of thewidth of the strips in order that they may be interfitted as a preformedcollapsible insert unit.

The packing operation then involves manually placing the several bottlesin a carton and then opening out and placing a cellular insert thereinso that each bottle is contained within an individual compartment.Mechanical packing does not appear to be used and would be difficult dueto the fact that each article should be a firm fit in its individualcompartment or cell.

Thus, this usual packing procedure is both relatively slow andrelatively expensive and it is one object of this invention to provide acarton or other like package of bottles or other articles, and whichcomprises improved partition means.

A further object is to provide an improved method of separating bottlesor other articles in a carton or the like while still another object isto provide apparatus for carrying'out the said method.

Accordingly, the invention provides the method of packing bottles orother similarly formed articles in a carton or other containercomprising arranging the articles in the container in a plurality ofcolumns and rows and substantially in contact, inserting a partitionstrip downwardly between the articles in each adjacent pair of columnsor rows subsequently inserting a partition strip downwardly between thearticles disposed in each adjacent pair of rows or columns as the casemay be, whereby such partition strip or strips is or are disposed atright angles to the firstmentioned partition strip or strips, and ifdesired, inserting a further partition strip downwardly between thearticles in each adjacent pair of columns or rows so that each of saidlastmentioned strips is disposed above and parallel to one of saidfirstmentioned strips.

Thus, according to this invention, the bottles or other articles areinserted in the container before the partition strips and this procedureenables them to be inserted readily by mechanical means. Also, after thefirst partition strip or strips have been inserted between the upperportions of the articles, the subsequent insertion of a further strip orstrips at right angles thereto, forces the first mentioned strip orstrips further downwardly.

The invention is especially applicable to the packing of bottles, jarsor other articles which are reduced in size at their upper ends and areformed with curved or sloping shoulders which serve to guide thepartition strips into the narrow spaces between the lower and largerportions of the articles.

Preferably, there are three successive levels or layers of the saidpartition strips.

In order to secure the series of partition strips against verticalmovement during transport or handling, an additional or locking strip ispreferably inserted loosely above the uppermost level or layer ofpartition strips and so that the upper edges of the locking strip isengaged by the closing flaps of the carton or other cover means of thecontainer.

The invention further provides apparatus for inserting partition stripsinto an open container in which a plurality of bottles or other articlesare arranged in columns and rows comprising, a magazine of partitionstrips, means for removing the partition strips one at a time from themagazine and for locating each strip in turn substantially horizontallyabove the con tainer and substantially in the vertical plane disposedmidway between two adjacent columns or rows of the articles therein,

and means operable to move the strip downwardly whereby it is insertedbetween said columns or rows of articles.

Preferably, a plurality of such partition strip inserting units isarranged at required spacings above an intermittently movable conveyorby means of which the containers are successively moved to an stopped ata plurality of stations at each of which one or more of the saidpartition strips is inserted and the assembly comprises at least twosuch spaced units arranged mutually at right angles when viewed in planwhereby one such unit inserts at least one strip between two adjacentcolumns of the articles, while the other unit inserts at least one stripbetween adjacent rows of the articles.

More particularly, each strip inserting mechanism or unit preferablycomprises a finger or the like which is pivotable about a horizontalaxis thereby to move gripping means on said finger into horizontalregister with a discharge opening in the bottom of an associatedmagazine in which partition strips are arranged horizontally, the one ontop of the other, means for discharging the lowermost strip in themagazine and delivering it to said gripping means in register therewith,means operable to impart a partial rotation to the finger or the likewhereby the said partition strip thereon moves arcuately downwardlyuntil it is suspended horizontally above a container disposed therebelowand means operable to move the suspended strip downwardly whereby it ispressed into the space between the two adjacent columns or rows of thearticles in the container.

The said gripping means on the finger or the like, preferably comprisesa spring clip or the like while the means for moving the suspended stripdownwardly preferably comprises a vertically movable pressing memberarranged above the suspended strip. The said pressing member ispreferably arranged vertically above the space between four of the saidarticles, arranged two in each column and row, in order that it mayenter this space to some extent as hereinafter more fully described.

The invention further provides a package assembly comprising a containerof generally rectangular form neatly accommodating a plurality ofsimilar articles, e.g. bottles, arranged in at least two columns and atleast two rows with narrow spaces therebetween, a lower partition memberconsisting of a strip of sheet material arranged on edge between, andlaterally supported solely by, each adjacent pair of columns or rows ofsaid articles, an upper partition member consisting of a strip of sheetmaterial arranged on edge between, and laterally supported solely byeach adjacent pair of rows or columns of said articles as the case maybe, whereby each upper partition member is disposed at right angles toeach lower partition member, and wherein each upper partition member oreach lower partition member, or both, is or are shaped so that the levelof the uppermost portion of each upper member is disposed above thelevel of the lowermost portion of each lower member, whereby throughoutsuch overlapping levels, each of said articles is separated from eachcontiguous article by one of said partition members.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one preferredform of apparatus in accordance therewith is hereinafter more fullydescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton containing bottles separated bypartition strips in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the assembly of partition strips andbottles,

FIG 3 is a view in side elevation of the assembly of bottles andpartition strips, and taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of mechanism forinserting the partition strips.

FIGS. 1 to 3 are views of a carton 10 or other rectangular container inwhich a plurality of bottles 12 have been arranged in columns and rowsin the usual way, the terms columns" and rows being used solely todistinguish lines of bottles arranged at right angles and not asimplying that a column contains more bottles than a row as in the caseof a square container, a column and a row would have equal numbers ofbottles therein.

After the bottles have been inserted in the container, a rectangularpartition strip 14 formed of paperboard or other suitable material, isinserted downwardly between each adjacent pair of rows of the bottleswhereby they extend transversely with respect to the carton. Thesestrips are not necessarily pushed downwardly to the bottom of the cartonat this time, though they are preferably inserted so that their upperedges do not project much if at all above the shoulders of the bottles.

It is to be observed that the strips do not necessarily extend the fullwidth of the carton and in fact they are preferably shorter by a littleless than the radius of the bottles in order to facilitate theirinsertion.

After the strips 14 have been thus inserted, an additional partitionstrip 16 is inserted downwardly between each adjacent pair of columns ofthe bottles. These partition strips 16 thus extend longitudinally withrespect to the carton and at right angles to the strips 14.

The insertion of the strips 16 thus causes the strips 14 to be pushedfurther downwards between the bottles.

Subsequently, further transverse partition strips 18 are inserted, onebetween each adjacent pair of rows so that each strip 18 is arrangedvertically above a strip 14. During the insertion of the strips 18 thestrips 14 and 16 are pushed further downwards until the former aredisposed in contact with, or close to, the bottom of the carton.

Finally a rectangular locking strip 20 which may be formed of similarmaterial is preferably placed loosely above the strips 18 and centrallyof the container in order that when the carton flaps (not shown) aresubsequently folded down and secured, these locking strips will holddown the assembly of partition strips 14, 16 and 18. See FIG. 3.

In this Figure, the locking strip 20 is shown disposed at right anglesto the strips 18 and parallel to the strips 16. It has been found thatone such locking strip 20 extending across the strips 18, midway betweenthe ends of the latter, is adequate to provide the desired holddownaction.

The several layers of partition strips may be formed mechanically forwhich purpose the cartons with the bottles previously inserted therein,are preferably moved in succession by an intermittent conveyor wherebythey are arrested in turn below a series of stations at each of whichone or more of the partition strips is inserted.

FIG. 4 shows diagrammatically one form of mechanism which may bearranged at one such station for the insertion of two parallel partitionstrips simultaneously for example the two end strips 16, the strips 14having been inserted at the previous station.

For this purpose, the mechanism comprises two vertical magazines 26 eachof which contains a plurality of strips 16 lying horizontally one on topof the other and an intermittently movable horizontal plunger 28operated in timed relation with the conveyor, is arranged to dischargeeach strip 16 in turn from the bottom of each magazine through adischarge opening 29 in the inner side of the latter.

Each thus ejected partition strip is received with an accommodating slot30 formed in the outer end of a horizontally disposed arm or finger 32,one side of this slot 30 being formed by a retaining spring 33 so thatthe strip is firmly frictionally retained to the finger. Each finger 32is partially rotatively mounted about a fixed horizontal axis 31 and isarranged approximately midway between the opposite ends of the partitionstrip 16.

After receiving and gripping the partition strip 16, the finger isturned through an angle of 90 until it projects vertically downwardswith the suspended partition strip disposed vertically above the spacebetween two adjacent rows of bottles. An arcuate guide (not shown) maybe provided to ensure that the strip 16 does not fall from the fingerduring this downward movement.

When the strip 16 is suspended vertically midway between the twocorresponding rows of bottles as shown in FIG. 4, it is disposedimmediately below a slotted vertically movable discharge member 36secured by an arm 37 to a vertically reciprocable spindle 38 mounted insuitable bearings, not shown, and as illustrated in the drawings, thedischarge member 36 for the other finger is similarly connected to thevertically reciprocable spindle.

Suitable means not shown are provided for moving this spindle 38downwardly at the appropriate time preferably at greater thangravitational speed and at least equal thereto, whereby each slotteddischarge member 36 pushes the respective partition strip 14 downwardlyfrom the respective spring clip on the depending finger and into thespace between the respective rows of bottles 12. Each of the saidslotted discharge members 36 is disposed in vertical alignment with thespace between four adjacent bottles and is of such a size that it iscapable of entering this space to some extent as it approaches the limitof its downward movement. Thus, each strip 16 is pushed below theshoulders of the bottles on each side thereof.

During the downward movement of the slotted discharge members 36, thefinger 32 is returned to its initial horizontal position by means of aswitch, a cam, or a combination of both whereupon a further partitionstrip 16 is discharged from each magazine and into the accommodatingslot 30 in the finger which is then in register with the dischargeopening in the corresponding magazine.

The carton assembly shown in the drawings is formed at five stations.Referring to FIG. 1 strips 1 and 2 are inserted at station 1; strips 3and 4 are inserted at station 2, strip 5 is inserted at station 3;strips 6 and 7 are inserted at station 4; and strip 8 is inserted atstation 5. Each station operates in the same set sequence, the actionbeing initiated by a carton stop 40 (see FIG. 4), and proceeding by thetriggering of a series of switches.

When a carton 10 arrives at its station it is arrested by the stop 40and trips a switch (not shown) to set the following cycle in motion.Finger 32 is in its vertically depending position shown in full lines inFIG. 4, holding the strip 16. The slotted discharge member 36 is plungeddownwardly forcing the strip 16 from the finger and guiding it betweenbottles 12. The finger 32 then returns to its horizontal strip receivingposition shown in broken outline. The plunger 28 engages the lowermoststrip in the magazine 26 and pushes it into the slot 30 in the fingerand the discharge member 36 is returned to its uppermost position. Thefinger is then moved to its vertically depending position ready for thenext operation, the carton stop 40 is retracted and the conveyor 41 setin motion to move the carton 10 to the next station.

The conveyor 41 is formed from two belts separated one from the other byan in-between gap and the cartons 10 rest on the said belts. The beltsare driven by a single drive roller which in turn is driven by athree-phase electric motor through a chain and sprocket drive.

The carton stops 40 operate on a time cycle governed by a cam. A stop isprovided at each station and all stops are operated simultaneously off alever 39 driven by a cam (not shown). A safety measure is included inthe stop system whereby the stop 40 will remain in an upright or 'stopposition preventing the carton from moving in case of any malfunction ofthe partition inserting mechanism. A mechanism, not shown, is providedat the start of the machine to separate any boxes running togetherwithout the appropriate space between them.

The partition strips 14 and 18 are preferably, though not necessarily,half the width of the strip 16.

It has been found by the present invention that the insertion of thestrips in cartons already containing bottles utilizing the method andapparatus according to the present invention results in considerablesavings in strip material, strips being provided only where required asopposed to the hitherto common method of substantially completelyencasing each bottle by a cell of partitioning material.

The mechanism is arranged and adjusted to permit the rapid insertion ofstrips at each station, each carton remaining at each station forapproximately 2 1% seconds. As described hereinbefore, the partitionstrips are pushed out of the fingers and down between the rows orcolumns of bottles at a speed at least equal to and preferably greaterthan gravitational speed thus ensuring that the strips do not twist outof the vertical plane and permitting accurate placement between saidrows or columns.

The invention therefore provides a method and apparatus which greatlyfacilitates packing of bottles and other fragile articles in cartons orother containers as it avoids the use of the preformed cellularpartition members commonly used for this purpose. This enables thebottles or jars to be inserted mechanically into the carton and thesubsequently inserted partition strips together form, in situ, acellular assembly as best shown in FIG. 1 which provides effectiveprotection for the bottles and in fact permits of them being moretightly packed than is the case when preformed cellular partitions areused.

Moreover, the amount of paperboard or other like material used for thepurpose of the present invention, is significantly less than that usedin preformed cellular inserts used for the same purpose, while also theexpense of preforming the same is obviated.

lclaim:

l. A method of packing bottles or other similarly formed articles in acarton or other container comprising the steps of arranging the articlesin the carton in a plurality of columns and rows and substantiallycontiguous with one another, removing at least one first partition stripfrom a magazine aligning partition strip holding means and said onefirst partition strip in a first position between the articles in anadjacent pair of columns or rows whereby the distance between theuppermost contiguous portion of said articles and the lowermost portionof said first partition strip is greater than the vertical dimension ofthe strip when in said first position, moving the first partition striptoward the articles through said distance at a speed at least equal tothe strips gravitational speed while maintaining the proper verticaloreintation of said first partition strip and inserting the firstpartition strip between the articles, removing at least one secondpartition strip from a magazine aligning second partition strip holdingmeans and at least one second partition strip in a second positionbetween the articles in an adjacent pair of rows or columns whereby thedistance between the uppermost contiguous portion of said articles andthe lowermost portion of said second partition strip is greater than thevertical dimension of the strip when in said second position, moving thesecond partition strip toward the articles-through said distance at aspeed at least equal to the strips gravitational speed while maintainingthe proper vertical oreintation of said second partition strip andinserting the second partition strip between the articles, the secondpartition strip being disposed at right angles to the first partitionstrip.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that after said firstpartition strip has been inserted between the upper portions of adjacentarticles, the subsequent insertion of a further strip at right anglesthereto forces the first partition strip further downwardly.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein a locking strip is insertedloosely above said further strip and at right angles thereto midwaybetween the ends of the latter, said locking strip being engaged by thecover means of the container.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 including the steps of inserting athird partition strip between the articles, the third partition stripbeing disposed above and parallel to the first partition strip.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first partition strip isinserted between the upper portions of adjacent articles and thesubsequent insertion of the second partition strip forces the firstpartition strip downwardly relative to the articles.

6. A method of packing bottles or other similarly formed articles in acarton or other container including the steps of arranging the articlesin the carton in a plurality of columns and rows and substantially incontact with one another, delivering the carton to a first station,providing at least one finger with a first partition strip from amagazine containing a supply of such strips, forcing the first partitionstrip downwardly out of the finger at a speed at least equal togravitational speed for placement of the first partition strip betweenthe upper portions of adjacent articles in each adjacent pair of columnsor rows, moving the carton to a second station, providing at least onefinger with a second partition strip from a magazine containing a supplyof such strips, forcing the second partition strip downwardly out of thefinger at a speed at least equal to gravitational speed for placementbetween the upper portions of adjacent articles in each adjacent pair ofrows or columns, the second partition strips being disposed at rightangles to the first partition strips, insertion of the second partitionstrips forcing the first partition strips downwardly between the articlea distance substantially equal to the width of the second partitionstrips, moving the carton to subsequent stations, inserting thirdpartition strips between the articles in each adjacent pair of columnsor rows so that the third partition strips are disposed above andparallel to the first partition strips, the insertion of the thirdpartition strips causing the first and second partition strips to beforced downwardly further between the articles.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 including the step of looselyinserting a locking strip above the third partition strips and at rightangles thereto midway between the ends of the third partition strips,the locking strip being adapted to being engaged by carton cover means.

8. A method of packing bottles or other similarly formed articles in acarton or other container comprising the steps of arranging the articlesin the carton in a plurality of columns and rows and substantially incontact with one another, delivering the carton to a first station,providing partition strip holding partition strips downwardly at a speedat least equal to gravitational speed for placement between the upperportion of adjacent articles in each adjacent pair of columns or rows,moving the carton to a second station, providing partition strip holdingmeans with a plurality of second partition strips and forcing the secondpartition strips downwardly at a speed at least equal to gravitationalspeed for placement between the upper portions of adjacent articles ineach adjacent pair of rows or columns, the second partition strips beingdisposed at right angles to the first partition strips, the insertion ofthe second partition strips forcing the first partition stripsdownwardly between the articles a distance substantially equal to thewidth of the second partition strips, moving the carton to subsequentstations, inserting at least one third partition strip between thearticles in an adjacent pair of columns or rows, the insertion of thethird partition strip causing the first and second partition strips tobe forced downwardly further between the articles.

9. Apparatus for inserting partition strips into an open container inwhich a plurality of bottles or other articles are arranged contiguouslyin columns and rows comprising, a carton support, a magazine ofpartition strips, means for removing the partition strips one at a timefrom the magazine and for locating each strip in turn in a firstposition substantially horizontally above the container andsubstantially in the vertical plane disposed midway between two adjacentcolumns or rows of the articles therein, said means being spaced fromthe carton support so that the distance between the uppermost contiguousportion of said bottles and the lowermost portion of said strip isgreater than the vertical dimension of the strip when in said firstposition, and means operable to move the strip downwardly through saiddistance at a speed at least equal to its gravitational speed wherebythe strip is maintained substantially in said vertical plane andinserted between said columns or rows of articles.

10. Apparatus for inserting partition strips in an open container inwhich a plurality of bottles or other articles are arranged in columnsand rows comprising a plurality of strip inserting mechanisms as claimedin claim 5 and further comprising movable conveyor means forsuccessively moving the containers to and stopping them at a pluralityof stations at each of which one or more of the said partition strips isinserted, the assembly comprising at least two such spaced mechanismsarranged mutually at right angles when viewed in plan whereby one suchmechanism insert at least one strip between two adjacent columns of thearticles, while the other mechanism inserts at least one strip betweentwo adjacent rows of the articles,

11. Apparatus for inserting partition strips into an open container inwhich a plurality of bottles or other articles are arranged in columnsand rows comprising, a magazine of partition strips having a dischargeopening in the bottom thereof, a finger adapted to receive the partitionstrips one at a time from the magazine, said finger being pivotableabout a horizontal axis to move the finger into horizontal register withthe discharge opening in the bottom of the magazine for receiving thelowermost strip in the magazine, means operable to impart rotation tothe finger whereby it and the partition strip thereon move arcuatelydownwardly until the strip is suspended horizontally above the containerand substantially in the vertical plane disposed midway between twoadjacent columns or rows of the articles therein, means operable to movethe strip downwardly whereby it is pressed into the space between twoadjacent columns or rows of the articles in the container.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the partition strips arearranged in the magazine horizontally, the one on top of the other;plunger means adapted to push the lowermost strip from said magazineinto a recess in an associated finger, said finger being pivotable abouta horizontal axis through an angle of 90 from a horizontal stripreceiving position to a vertical strip discharge position, wherein saidstrip is suspended horizontally above the container, pressing meansarranged above the suspended strip and operable to move verticallydownwardly to remove said strip from the finger and press it into thespace between two adjacent columns or rows of the articles in thecontainer.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said finger comprises aspring clip for holding said partition strip in fric tional engagementtherewith.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further comprising movable conveyormeans for successively moving the containers to and stopping them at aplurality of stations at each of which one or move of the said partitionstrips is inserted, at least two spaced fingers arranged mutually atright angles when viewed in plane whereby one finger aligns at least onestrip for insertion between two adjacent columns of the articles whilethe other finger aligns at least one other strip for insertion betweentwo adjacent rows of the articles.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the pressing means includespartition strip receiving means incapable of supporting a partitionstrip in a suspended position above the container.

16. Apparatus for inserting partition strips into an open container inwhich a plurality of bottles or other articles are arranged contiguouslyin columns and rows comprising, a carton support, a magazine ofpartition strips, means for removing the partition strips one at a timefrom the magazine and for locating each strip in turn in a firstposition substantially horizontally above the container andsubstantially in the vertical plane disposed midway between two adjacentcolumns or rows of the articles therein, said means being spaced fromthe carton support so that the distance between the uppermost contiguousportion of said bottles and the lowermost portion of said strip isgreater than the vertical dimension of the strip when in said firstposition, and partition strip guide means incapable of supporting thepartition strips against the force of gravity and operable to move thestrip vertically downwardly through said distance at a speed at leastequal to its gravitational speed while maintaining the stripsubstantially in said vertical plane whereby the strip is insertedbetween said columns or rows of articles.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE CERTEFICATE or CORRECTION Patent No. 3 65]6] 4 Dated March 28, 1.972

I en fls) Henry Morgan Corderoy It: is certified that error appears inthe aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 6- change "an" to "and" Column 6, line 35 after "holding"insert the following:

-- means with a plurality of first partition strips, forcing the firstColumn 8, line 8 change "move" to "more" Signed and sealed this Zb thday of October 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARQPLFLETCHERJR. I ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM PO-1 (10-69) uscoMM-Dc 60376-P69 1? US. GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: (969 O-366334

1. A method of packing bottles or other similarly formed articles in acarton or other container comprising the steps of arranging the articlesin the carton in a plurality of columns and rows and substantiallycontiguous with one another, removing at least one first partition stripfrom a magazine aligning partition strip holding means and said onefirst partition strip in a first position between the articles in anadjacent pair of columns or rows whereby the distance between theuppermost contiguous portion of said articles and the lowermost portionof said first partition strip is greater than the vertical dimension ofthe strip when in said first position, moving the first partition striptoward the articles through said distance at a speed at least equal tothe strip''s gravitational speed while maintaining the proper verticaloreintation of said first partition strip and inserting the firstpartition strip between the articles, removing at least one secondpartition strip from a magazine aligning second partition strip holdingmeans and at least one second partition strip in a second positionbetween the articles in an adjacent pair of rows or columns whereby thedistance between the uppermost contiguous portion of said articles andthe lowermost portion of said second partition strip is greater than thevertical dimension of the strip when in said second position, moving thesecond partition strip toward the articles through said distance at aspeed at least equal to the strip''s gravitational speed whilemaintaining the proper vertical oreintation of said second partitionstrip and inserting the second partition strip between the articles, thesecond partition strip being disposed at right angles to the firstpartition strip.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 characterized in thatafter said first partition strip has been inserted between the upperportions of adjacent articles, the subsequent insertion of a furtherstrip at right angles thereto forces the first partition strip furtherdownwardly.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein a locking strip isinserted loosely above said further strip and at right angles theretomidway between the ends of the latter, said locking strip being engagedby the cover means of the container.
 4. A method as defined in claim 1including the steps of inserting a third partition strip between thearticles, the third partition strip being disposed above and parallel tothe first partition strip.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein thefirst partition strip is inserted between the upper portions of adjacentarticles and the subsequent insertion of the second partition stripforces the first partition strip downwardly relative to the articles. 6.A method of packing bottles or other similarly formed articles in acarton or other container including the steps of arranging the articlesin the carton in a plurality of columns and rows and substantially incontact with one another, delivering the carton to a first station,providing at least one finger with a first partition strip from amagazine containing a supply of such strips, forcing the first partitionstrip downwardly out of the finger at a speed at least equal togravitational speed for placement of the first partition strip betweenthe upper portions of adjacent articles in each adjacent pair of columnsor rows, moving the carton to a second station, providing at least onefinger with a second partition strip from a magazine containing a supplyof such strips, forcing the second partition strip downwardly out of thefinger at a speed at least equal to gravitational speed for placementbetween the upper portions of adjacent articles in each adjacent pair ofrows or columns, the second partition strips being disposed at rightangles to the first partition strips, insertion of the second partitionstrips forcing the first partition strips downwardly between the articlea distance substantially equal to the width of the second partitionstrips, moving the carton to subsequent stations, inserting thirdpartition strips between the articles in each adjacent pair of columnsor rows so that the third partition strips are disposed above andparallel to the first partition strips, the insertion of the thirdpartition strips causing the first and second partition strips to beforced downwardly further between the articles.
 7. The method as claimedin claim 6 including the step of loosely inserting a locking strip abovethe third partition strips and at right angles thereto midway betweenthe ends of the third partition strips, the locking strip being adaptedto being engaged by carton cover means.
 8. A method of packing bottlesor other similarly formed articles in a carton or other containercomprising the steps of arranging the articles in the carton in aplurality of columns and rows and substantially in contact with oneanother, delivering the carton to a first station, providing partitionstrip holding partition strips downwardly at a speed at least equal togravitational speed for placement between the upper portion of adjacentarticles in each adjacent pair of columns or rows, moving the carton toa second station, providing partition strip holding means with aplurality of second partition strips and forcing the second partitionstrips downwardly at a speed at least equal to gravitational speed forplacement between the upper portions of adjacent articles in eachadjacent pair of rows or columns, the second partition strips beingdisposed at right angles to the first partition strips, the insertion ofthe second partition strips forcing the first partition stripsdownwardly between the articles a distance substantially equal to thewidth of the second partition strips, moving the carton to subsequentstations, inserting at least one third partition strip between thearticles in an adjacent pair of columns or rows, the insertion of thethird partition strip causing the first and second partition strips tobe forced downwardly further between the articles.
 9. Apparatus forinserting partition strips into an open container in which a pluralityof bottles or other articles are arranged contiguously in columns androws comprising, a carton support, a magazine of partition strips, meansfor removing the partition strips one at a time from the magazine andfor locating each strip in turn in a first position substantiallyhorizontally above the container and substantially in the vertical planedisposed midway between two adjacent columns or rows of the articlestherein, said means being spaced from the carton support so that thedistance between the uppermost contiguous portion of said bottles andthe lowermost portion of said strip is greater than the verticaldimension of the strip when in said first position, and means operableto move the strip downwardly through said distance at a speed at leastequal to its gravitational speed whereby the strip is maintainedsubstantially in said vertical plane and inserted between said columnsor rows of articles.
 10. Apparatus for inserting partition strips in anopen container in which a plurality of bottles or other articles arearranged in columns and rows comprising a plurality of strip insertingmechanisms as claimed in claim 5 and further comprising movable conveyormeans for successively moving the containers to and stopping them at aplurality of stations at each of which one or more of the said partitionstrips is inserted, the assembly comprising at least two such spacedmechanisms arranged mutually at right angles when viewed in plan wherebyone such mechanism insert at least one strip between two adjacentcolumns of the articles, while the other mechanism inserts at least onestrip between two adjacent rows of the articles.
 11. Apparatus forinserting partition strips into an open container in which a pluralityof bottles or other articles are arranged in columns and rowscomprising, a magazine of partition strips having a discharge opening inthe bottom thereof, a finger adapted to receive the partition strips oneat a time from the magazine, said finger being pivotable about ahorizontal axis to move the finger into horizontal register with thedischarge opening in the bottom of the magazine for receiving thelowermost strip in the magazine, means operable to imPart rotation tothe finger whereby it and the partition strip thereon move arcuatelydownwardly until the strip is suspended horizontally above the containerand substantially in the vertical plane disposed midway between twoadjacent columns or rows of the articles therein, means operable to movethe strip downwardly whereby it is pressed into the space between twoadjacent columns or rows of the articles in the container.
 12. Apparatusas claimed in claim 11 wherein the partition strips are arranged in themagazine horizontally, the one on top of the other; plunger meansadapted to push the lowermost strip from said magazine into a recess inan associated finger, said finger being pivotable about a horizontalaxis through an angle of 90* from a horizontal strip receiving positionto a vertical strip discharge position, wherein said strip is suspendedhorizontally above the container, pressing means arranged above thesuspended strip and operable to move vertically downwardly to removesaid strip from the finger and press it into the space between twoadjacent columns or rows of the articles in the container.
 13. Apparatusas claimed in claim 12 wherein said finger comprises a spring clip forholding said partition strip in frictional engagement therewith. 14.Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further comprising movable conveyormeans for successively moving the containers to and stopping them at aplurality of stations at each of which one or move of the said partitionstrips is inserted, at least two spaced fingers arranged mutually atright angles when viewed in plane whereby one finger aligns at least onestrip for insertion between two adjacent columns of the articles whilethe other finger aligns at least one other strip for insertion betweentwo adjacent rows of the articles.
 15. Apparatus as defined in claim 12wherein the pressing means includes partition strip receiving meansincapable of supporting a partition strip in a suspended position abovethe container.
 16. Apparatus for inserting partition strips into an opencontainer in which a plurality of bottles or other articles are arrangedcontiguously in columns and rows comprising, a carton support, amagazine of partition strips, means for removing the partition stripsone at a time from the magazine and for locating each strip in turn in afirst position substantially horizontally above the container andsubstantially in the vertical plane disposed midway between two adjacentcolumns or rows of the articles therein, said means being spaced fromthe carton support so that the distance between the uppermost contiguousportion of said bottles and the lowermost portion of said strip isgreater than the vertical dimension of the strip when in said firstposition, and partition strip guide means incapable of supporting thepartition strips against the force of gravity and operable to move thestrip vertically downwardly through said distance at a speed at leastequal to its gravitational speed while maintaining the stripsubstantially in said vertical plane whereby the strip is insertedbetween said columns or rows of articles.